Integrated coolant module

Abstract

The present invention relates to an integrated coolant module applied to a vehicle cooling system, and more particularly, to an integrated coolant module having a tank formed in a bisymmetric structure and having a valve coupled to a side surface of the tank, whereby space utilization and work convenience can be improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an integrated coolant module applied to a vehicle cooling system, and more particularly, to such an integrated coolant module in which a tank is formed to have a vertically symmetrical structure and a valve is connected to a lateral surface of the tank, thereby improving space utilization and working convenience. Background Art

[0002] Recently, there is a need to develop environmentally friendly vehicles that can substantially replace internal combustion engine vehicles in order to improve energy efficiency and cope with environmental pollution. Environmentally friendly vehicles broadly include electric or hydrogen vehicles using batteries or fuel cells as energy sources and hybrid vehicles operated by using an engine and a battery. Environmentally friendly vehicles include not only an engine cooling system configured to manage a process of cooling / heating the engine, but also a separate electrical component cooling system configured to manage heat of electrical components such as an electric motor.

[0003] The electrical component cooling system cools the electrical components, actuators, HSG (Hybrid Starter and Generator), etc. primarily by using coolant. The electrical components are configured to heat the battery in cold weather by allowing the coolant to bypass the radiator through a bypass loop and allowing waste heat from the PE components (power electronics) to pass through the battery.

[0004] The electrical component cooling system of an environmentally friendly vehicle needs to meet various purposes such as heating, cooling, and waste heat recovery from multiple water supply components. However, due to the limitation of the layout space in the vehicle, the following problems may occur: the difficulty of setting components, designing hose routes, and connecting components and hoses increases, a large number of processes are required to individually install and connect components and hoses in order to install the components in the vehicle, resistance increases at the coolant side due to complicated routes, and a high load is applied to the water pump.

[0005] Figure 1 2 is a diagram schematically showing a coolant module of an electrical component cooling system in the related art. The coolant module 2 in the related art may have a structure in which a valve 4 is connected to the lower part of a tank 3. The internal space of the tank 3 is divided into a first space 31 and a second space 32 by a partition wall 30. In this case, it is easiest to manufacture a tank 3 having a symmetrical structure relative to the partition wall 30 so that the first space 31 and the second space 32 have the same coolant holding capacity. However, as shown in the figure, since the packaging space in the vehicle is changed by the vehicle hood line HL, it is difficult to design a symmetrical structure in which the first space 31 and the second space 32 have the same capacity and the same structure. In addition, due to the position of the coolant injection port 35 of the tank 3, there is a limitation that increases the height of the tank 3.

[0006] In addition, in the case of the connection structure between the tank 3 and the valve 4, the valve 4 is generally connected to the lower part of the tank 3. However, there is a problem that the height of the coolant module 2 is increased and the coolant module 2 occupies a large space. In addition, there is a problem in that, because the valve 4 is provided on the lower part of the tank 3, it is difficult to connect a hose when the coolant module 2 is installed in a vehicle, which reduces workability, etc.

[0007] [Related technical literature]

[0008] (Patent Document) Korean Patent No. 10-1765578 (registered on August 1, 2017) Summary of the invention

[0009] Technical issues

[0010] The present invention has been made in an effort to solve the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an integrated coolant module capable of improving space utilization and work convenience.

[0011] Technical Solution

[0012] An integrated coolant module according to an example of the present invention includes: a tank having a hollow internal space for accommodating a coolant, the tank including a plurality of partitioned areas in the internal space separated by partition walls; and a component connected to one side of the tank and including at least one of a valve and a pump, wherein at least one of the plurality of partitioned areas in the tank is directly connected to the component, and another partitioned area is connected to the component while penetrating the area directly connected to the component.

[0013] The plurality of partitioned areas may include a first chamber and a second chamber, and the member may be disposed on a lateral surface of one side of the tank, the lateral surface of one side of the tank being a lateral surface of one side of the first chamber.

[0014] An assembly surface between the component and the tank may be arranged parallel to the partition wall.

[0015] A coolant inlet port through which the coolant is introduced and a coolant discharge port may be provided on the first chamber and the second chamber, the coolant discharge port of the first chamber may be formed on a lateral surface of one side of the first chamber and directly connected to the component, and the coolant discharge port of the second chamber may be connected to the component via a connecting flow path extending from the corresponding coolant discharge port.

[0016] The connecting flow path may be arranged to traverse the interior space of the first chamber.

[0017] The connecting flow path may be provided outside the tank.

[0018] The first chamber may be disposed at one side based on the partition wall and formed in an elongated shape, and the second chamber may be disposed at the other side based on the partition wall and formed in an elongated shape.

[0019] The tank can have at least a partial region whose height decreases from the rear side to the front.

[0020] An upper surface of a region of the tank where the height decreases from the rear side to the front may be formed in a curved shape.

[0021] An upper surface of a region of the tank where the height decreases from the rear side to the front may be formed in a straight shape.

[0022] At least a portion of an upper surface of the tank may be formed along a hood line of the vehicle.

[0023] A single coolant injection port may be provided at a rear side of an upper portion of the tank.

[0024] The first chamber and the second chamber may be formed symmetrically with respect to the partition wall.

[0025] An upper portion of the partition wall may have a penetration structure, and the first chamber and the second chamber may communicate with each other through the penetration upper portion of the partition wall.

[0026] A single coolant injection port may be provided on an upper portion of the tank, and the single coolant injection port may be provided on a vertical upper portion of the partition wall.

[0027] Beneficial Effects

[0028] According to the present invention, the tank has a vertically symmetrical structure, and the valve is coupled to the lateral surface of the tank, making it easy to design chambers having the same capacity in the tank. While satisfying the above configuration, the shape of the tank can be freely designed in the forward / rearward direction, making it possible to optimally utilize the vehicle hood line. The valve is exposed in a desired direction, making it possible to improve workability when a hose, etc., is connected when the valve is installed in a vehicle. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0029] Figure 1 is a diagram schematically showing a coolant module of an electric component cooling system in the related art.

[0030] Figure 2 is a diagram showing an integrated coolant module according to an example of the present invention when viewed from a lateral side.

[0031] Figure 3 is shown when viewed from the top side Figure 2 Figure 1. An image of the integrated coolant module in Figure 2.

[0032] Figure 4 is a diagram for explaining another example of connecting flow paths. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0033] Hereinafter, the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0034] Figure 2 is a diagram showing an integrated coolant module according to an example of the present invention when viewed from a lateral side, and Figure 3 is shown when viewed from the top side Figure 2 As shown in the figure, the integrated coolant module 10 of the present invention includes a tank 100 and a component 200.

[0035] The tank 100 accommodates and stores the coolant therein. The tank 100 includes a case body 110 corresponding to the outer peripheral shell, a coolant injection port 120 provided on an upper portion of the case body 110 and configured to inject the coolant into the inner space of the case body 110, and a partition wall 130 provided in the inner space of the case body 110. In addition, the inner space of the case body 110 includes a first chamber 101 and a second chamber 102 separated by the partition wall 130.

[0036] A coolant inlet port and a coolant discharge port through which the coolant is introduced are provided on the first chamber 101 and the second chamber 102. In the drawings, the coolant inlet port of the first chamber 101 is shown as a first coolant inlet port 101A, the coolant discharge port of the first chamber 101 is shown as a first coolant discharge port 101B, the coolant inlet port of the second chamber 102 is shown as a second coolant inlet port 102A, and the coolant discharge port of the second chamber 102 is shown as a second coolant discharge port 102B. The coolant inlet port and the coolant discharge port may each have a through-hole structure penetrating the case 110 or the partition wall 130. At least some of the coolant inlet port and the coolant discharge port may each have a pipe structure extending therefrom to a predetermined extent.

[0037] The upper portion of the partition wall 130 may have a penetration structure 130C. For example, the partition wall 130 may have a predetermined height defined upward from the bottom of the box body 110. Therefore, the upper end of the partition wall 130 and the upper surface of the box body 110 may be spaced apart from each other at a predetermined interval. In addition, as described above, the first chamber 101 and the second chamber 102 may be connected to each other through the penetration upper portion 130C of the partition wall 130 (i.e., the upper portion of the partition wall 130 having a predetermined height).

[0038] In this case, the coolant in the first chamber 101 and the coolant in the second chamber 102 can circulate through different cooling circuits and thus have different temperature distributions. For example, the coolant in the first chamber 101 can flow along the PE cooling circulation line for cooling the PE components, and the coolant in the second chamber 102 can flow along the battery cooling circulation line for cooling the battery. In this case, because the temperature range of the main operating area of ​​the PE component is higher than the temperature range of the battery, the temperature of the coolant in the first chamber 101 that has circulated through the PE cooling circulation line and has been reintroduced can be higher than the temperature of the coolant in the second chamber 102 that has circulated through the battery cooling circulation line and has been reintroduced. As described above, in the case where the temperature distributions of the coolants in the two chambers are different, mixing the coolants in the two chambers is not preferred. The height of the partition wall 130 (i.e., the lowest height of the penetration upper portion of the partition wall) is designed to be higher than the highest coolant level preset in the tank 100, so that the coolant in one side chamber does not flow to the other side chamber. In this case, the preset minimum coolant level and the preset maximum coolant level may both refer to a preferred preset amount of coolant contained and stored in the tank, and are represented by lines formed on an inner or outer surface of the tank body.

[0039] The coolant injection port 120 may be configured as a single coolant injection port 120, and the single coolant injection port 120 may be disposed on the vertical upper portion of the partition wall 130 having the above-described structure. That is, the coolant injection ports may be disposed on the chambers to supply the coolant to the first chamber 101 and the second chamber 102, respectively, but this configuration results in an increase in the number of components and inconvenience in supplying the coolant. Therefore, a single coolant injection port may be provided. In the case where the coolant injection port 120 is disposed on the vertical upper portion of the partition wall 130, the coolant injected through the corresponding coolant injection port 120 may be distributed to the first chamber 101 and the second chamber 102. Therefore, in the present invention, a single coolant injection port 120 may be provided by using this configuration.

[0040] The component 200 includes at least one of a valve and a pump. The component 200 may refer to a valve, a pump, or a coolant control module configured by integrating a valve and a pump. In the present invention, the configuration in which the component 200 is a valve will be described. Hereinafter, the valve 200 will be described instead of the component 200.

[0041] The valve 200 may be a multi-directional electric valve for controlling a flow path of the coolant. The valve may include a valve body 210 and a valve-tank connection 220. The tank 100 and the valve 200 may be fluidly connected to each other through the valve-tank connection 220. More specifically, the first chamber 101 and the second chamber 102 are connected to the valve 200. In this case, the first coolant discharge port 101B of the first chamber 101 and the second coolant discharge port 102B of the second chamber 102 may be directly connected to the valve-tank connection 220.

[0042] That is, the integrated coolant module 10 of the present invention has a structure in which the tank 100 and the valve 200 are coupled to each other and directly connected to each other without a connection member such as a separate hose. Therefore, miniaturization can be achieved by modularizing the components.

[0043] Return to reference Figure 2 and Figure 3 In the integrated coolant module 10 of the present invention, the partition wall 130 is arranged in the internal space of the tank 110 along the forward / rearward direction. That is, the partition wall 130 is configured to be elongated in the forward / rearward direction. In addition, the first chamber 101 is arranged on the left side of the internal space (i.e., one side based on the partition wall) and is elongated in the forward / rearward direction. The second chamber 102 is arranged on the right side of the internal space (i.e., the other side based on the partition wall) and is elongated in the forward / rearward direction. In addition, the valve 200 is arranged on the left side of the tank 100, i.e., on the left side of the first chamber 101. That is, the valve 200 is arranged parallel to the partition wall 130 relative to the assembly surface of the tank 100, and the valve 200 is connected to the lateral surface of the tank 100.

[0044] exist Figure 1 In the case of the coolant module 2 in the related art, the valve 4 is positioned on the lower part of the tank 3, which makes it inconvenient to connect a hose, etc. In contrast, according to the present invention, the valve 200 is positioned on the lateral surface of the tank 100, and the degree of exposure of the valve 200 is increased, so that when the coolant module 10 is installed in a vehicle and a hose, etc. is connected, workability can be improved.

[0045] Furthermore, since the first chamber 101 and the second chamber 102 are separated at the left and right sides, the first chamber 101 and the second chamber 102 can have the same internal capacity even if the tank 100 is asymmetrical in the forward / rearward direction. Therefore, as described below, the shape of the tank 100 can be freely changed to fit the vehicle hood line HL.

[0046] Meanwhile, the first chamber 101 can be directly connected to the valve 200 because the first coolant discharge port 101B is formed at the left side of the first chamber 101. However, the second chamber 102 is spaced apart from the valve 200, and the first chamber 101 is positioned between the second chamber 102 and the valve 200, making it difficult to directly connect the second chamber 102 to the valve 200. In order to cope with this difficulty, the present invention adopts a configuration of a connecting flow path 103B. That is, the integrated coolant module 10 of the present invention may also include a connecting flow path 103B extending from the second coolant discharge port 102B of the second chamber 102, and the second chamber 102 may be connected to the valve through the corresponding connecting flow path 103B.

[0047] like Figure 3 As shown, the connecting flow path 103B can be arranged to cross the internal space of the first chamber 101. That is, the connecting flow path 103B can be arranged in the internal space of the first chamber 101. Because the connecting flow path is arranged and accommodated in the internal space of the first chamber as described above, the space occupied by the connecting flow path can be effectively reduced. In this example, the connecting flow path 103B can be manufactured by molding and integrated with the case 110. In this case, the connecting flow path can be formed on the bottom of the case 110. Molding manufacturing is advantageous.

[0048] In contrast, the connecting flow path 103B may be provided outside the tank 100 . Figure 4 1 is a diagram for explaining another example of a connecting flow path. As shown in the figure, unlike the previous example, the connecting flow path 103B of this example can be set outside the tank 100. In this example, the connecting flow path 103B can be configured as a separate hose. In addition, in the previous example, the second coolant discharge port 102B of the second chamber is formed on the partition wall 130. In contrast, in this example, the second coolant discharge port 102B of the second chamber can be formed on the tank body 110. This example advantageously has a simple structure and is easy to manufacture compared to the previous example.

[0049] In addition, although not shown separately, the connecting flow path 103B may have a structure in which its height decreases from the second chamber 102 toward the valve 200. This structure may help allow the coolant to flow smoothly from the second chamber 102 to the valve 200. In addition, the connecting flow path 103B may be integrated with the second coolant discharge port 102B of the second chamber. Alternatively, the connecting flow path 103B may be manufactured separately from the second coolant discharge port 102B of the second chamber and connected to the second coolant discharge port 102B of the second chamber.

[0050] Return to reference Figure 2As shown in the figure, the tank 100 is configured so that the height of at least a part of the area decreases from the rear side to the front. That is, the upper surface of the tank 100 can be configured to fall from the rear side to the front. Therefore, the hood line HL of the vehicle can be utilized to the maximum extent. Figure 2 The tank 100 is shown to have a shape in which the height of the tank 100 decreases forward from a predetermined position in the center of the tank 100. Alternatively, the upper surface of the tank 100 may be formed in a curved shape along the hood line of the vehicle, or the tank 100 may be formed as a whole in a shape in which the height decreases forward from the rear side.

[0051] In addition, as described above, the coolant injection port 120 may be configured as a single coolant injection port. In this case, the single coolant injection port 120 may be provided at the rear side of the upper portion of the tank 100. The coolant injection port 120 protrudes upward from the tank body 110 to a predetermined degree, which may advantageously maximize the layout based on the vehicle hood line HL.

[0052] In addition, the tank 100 may have a vertically symmetrical structure as a whole. Specifically, the first chamber 101 and the second chamber 102 may be configured to be symmetrical with respect to the partition wall 130. Therefore, the first chamber 101 and the second chamber 102 may have the same horizontal cross-sectional area, and the first chamber 101 and the second chamber 102 may have the same volume and the same capacity. That is, in Figure 1 In the case of the tank 3 in the related art, there is difficulty in design because it is necessary to change the structure of the partition wall 30 or the shape of the tank body to configure the first space 31 and the second space 32 with the same capacity. In contrast, according to the present invention, the tank only has a vertically symmetrical structure with respect to the partition wall formed in the forward / rearward direction, so that the first chamber and the second chamber can be easily configured to have the same capacity, and the highest coolant level and the lowest coolant level can be set equally in the two chambers, which can improve the manufacturing and use convenience.

[0053] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described with reference to the accompanying drawings, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the present invention may be implemented in any other specific form without changing its technical spirit or essential features. Therefore, it should be understood that the above embodiments are illustrative in all aspects and do not limit the present invention.

[0054] [Description of Reference Signs]

[0055] 10: Integrated coolant module

[0056] 100: Storage tank

[0057] 110: Cabinet

[0058] 120: Coolant injection port

[0059] 130: Partition wall

[0060] 130C: Penetration of the upper part of the partition wall

[0061] 101: First Chamber

[0062] 102: Second Chamber

[0063] 200: Components (valve)

[0064] 210: Valve body

[0065] 220: Valve-tank connection

[0066] HL: Vehicle hood line

Claims

1. An integrated coolant module, comprising: a tank having a hollow inner space containing a coolant, the tank comprising a plurality of partitioned areas in the inner space separated by partition walls; and a component coupled to one side of the tank and comprising at least one of a valve and a pump, wherein at least one of the plurality of partitioned areas in the tank is in direct communication with the component, and another partitioned area is in direct communication with the component while penetrating the area in direct communication with the component.

2. The integrated coolant module according to claim 1, wherein: The plurality of partitioned areas include a first chamber and a second chamber, and the member is disposed on a lateral surface of one side of the tank, the lateral surface of one side of the tank being a lateral surface of one side of the first chamber.

3. The integrated coolant module according to claim 2, wherein: An assembly surface between the component and the tank is arranged parallel to the partition wall.

4. The integrated coolant module according to claim 2, wherein: A coolant inlet port through which the coolant is introduced and a coolant discharge port are provided on the first chamber and the second chamber, the coolant discharge port of the first chamber is formed on a lateral surface of one side of the first chamber and is directly connected to the component, and the coolant discharge port of the second chamber is connected to the component through a connecting flow path extending from the corresponding coolant discharge port.

5. The integrated coolant module according to claim 4, wherein: The connecting flow path is arranged to traverse the interior space of the first chamber.

6. The integrated coolant module according to claim 4, wherein: The connecting flow path is disposed outside the tank.

7. The integrated coolant module according to claim 2, wherein: The first chamber is disposed at one side based on the partition wall and is formed in an elongated shape, and the second chamber is disposed at the other side based on the partition wall and is formed in an elongated shape.

8. The integrated coolant module according to claim 7, wherein: The tank has at least a partial region whose height decreases from the rear side to the front.

9. The integrated coolant module according to claim 8, wherein: An upper surface of a region of the tank where the height decreases from the rear side to the front is formed in a curved shape.

10. The integrated coolant module according to claim 8, wherein: An upper surface of a region of the tank where the height decreases from the rear side to the front is formed in a straight shape.

11. The integrated coolant module according to claim 8, wherein: At least a portion of an upper surface of the tank is formed along a hood line of the vehicle.

12. The integrated coolant module according to claim 7, wherein: A single coolant injection port is provided at a rear side of an upper portion of the tank.

13. The integrated coolant module according to claim 2, wherein: The first chamber and the second chamber are formed symmetrically with respect to the partition wall.

14. The integrated coolant module according to claim 2, wherein: An upper portion of the partition wall has a penetration structure, and the first chamber and the second chamber communicate with each other through the penetration upper portion of the partition wall.

15. The integrated coolant module of claim 2, wherein: A single coolant injection port is provided on an upper portion of the tank, and the single coolant injection port is provided on a vertical upper portion of the partition wall.

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